MEDICINAL PLANTS AND DRUGS. 173 



This plant was formerly supposed to be the Plantago Psyllium (L.) 

 but is certainly a different species. It is cultivated in Bengal, on account 

 of the seeds, which, like those of the P. Psyllium, form a rich mucilage 

 with boiling water. For this purpose, a pint of water is poured on about 

 two drams of the seeds. This mucilage \i very generally used, as a de- 

 mulcent, iii catarrhs, nephritic pains, heat of urine, and other diseases in 

 which acrimony is to be obviated vOf filiated. 



Plumb AGO Zeylanica. (W.) Chita,W F3. Chittaca, S. 

 Plumbago Rosea. (W.) Ldl Chita, EL Racla Chitraca, S. 



Both these shrubs are cultivated in Bengal as flower plants. Every 

 part of them is extremely acrid,; particularly the root ; which, in it's re- 

 cent state, being bruised, is employed, hyjth,e.:HzX^?^.,pra<5titioi;iers, as a 

 vesicatory. 



The Plumbago Eurcpiga. is nientioned by Murray (I. 772.) as having 

 been foUnd efficacious-iit the cure! of cancery for which purpose the ulcers 

 are dressed, thrice a day, With olive oil, in- which the leaves of the plant 

 have been infused. The authorities Which'he quotes, for the cures effefted 

 by this application, are respe6\:able ; andi as our species coincide entirely 

 in quality with the Plumbago Europaa, it may be worth while to make a 

 trial of their power, in a disease so deplorable, for which no adequate re- 

 medy has yet been discovered. 



Pterocabpus Sant^linus. {W.) Ract Chandan,^^} H, J[iacia PJiandana, S. 



Murray. Vl. 59.' ■"■'"■ 

 .,riv[ \\i:;f '.- .-l:o a :.;i; ■ ; •' Woodville. IV. 109. ' 



)PoJit.c^QitA'fiiATr3>M.v:{^3ff^%A'a'&ri\\yBadima,^. 



:,•.■ 'i-.roi-f'' . Murray. III. 262. 



WOODVILLE. I. 158. 



(») C/iecifl. (2) Rukui Chundun. 



